The long list for the Art Fund Prize 2011 has been revealed and includes the new £21 million Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway, Scotland.
The contenders for the £100,000 prize have been selected by an independent panel of judges, chaired this year by Michael Portillo. The list will be whittled down to a shortlist of four museums, which will be announced on 19 May. The winner will then be revealed on 15 June.
Following last year's success, members of the public are again being invited to vote online for their favourite long listed museum.
The ten museums that have made it onto the list are as follows:
• British Museum, London, A History of the World in 100 Objects
• Hertford Museum, Hertfordshire, Hertford Museum's Development Project
• Leighton House, London, Closer To Home: The Restoration and Reopening of Leighton House Museum
• Mostyn, Llandudno, Wales, Refurbishment and extension of Mostyn gallery
• People's History Museum, Manchester, The new People's History Museum 2010
• Polar Museum, University of Cambridge, Promoting Britain's Polar Heritage
• The new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway, Scotland
• Roman Baths Museum, Bath, Roman Baths Development
• V&A, London, Ceramics Study Galleries
• Yorkshire Museum, York, Letting in the Light - Revitalising the Yorkshire Museum for the 21st century
Art Fund director Stephen Deuchar said: “From Llandudno to Hertford, London to Alloway, we hope people will go and be inspired by these spectacular projects, and that they’ll come back and let us know their thoughts via our online poll.
“The coming weeks will be crucial for the judges in assessing which museums make it onto the short list. The public’s participation has an important part to play.”
The 2011 Art Fund Prize poll is now open. M&H readers can vote by clicking here.
The site also includes a graph to show which museums are picking up the most votes. At the last time of looking the People’s History Museum in Manchester was leading the way with 32.6 per cent, followed by the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum (22 per cent).
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